decisionhealth Newsletters, Coder Pink Sheets - 2020 Issue 8 (August)
Tap into telehealth for advance care planning, but don’t forget to gain consent
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Article Overview
This premium article covers how advance care planning fits into telehealth during the COVID-19 era and why it matters for providers working with homebound or high-risk patients. It discusses the broader policy environment, Medicare telehealth availability, consent and documentation expectations, handling of forms, and state-specific signing requirements. The content is intended for coding, billing, compliance, and clinical operations professionals who need to understand the telehealth and documentation considerations surrounding advance care planning.
Why This Topic Matters
Telehealth expansion changed how advance care planning can be delivered and documented, but it also introduced compliance and workflow issues that providers must manage carefully. Understanding the article helps readers assess consent, storage, and state-law considerations while reviewing Medicare telehealth guidance for this service area.
Article Sections
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Telehealth expansion and advance care planning
Introduces how telehealth availability broadened access to advance care planning and why the topic became more relevant for certain patient populations. Summarizes the policy context that made remote encounters more feasible.
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ACP lends itself to tech talks
Discusses the practical advantages of using technology for advance care planning discussions, including participation, communication, and recording-related considerations. Also addresses the interpersonal dynamics of remote conversations.
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Consent is crucial
Focuses on patient consent, documentation workflow, and how consent may be captured and stored within telehealth-related processes. Covers general compliance and form-handling considerations.
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Secure the forms, get a witness
Covers the handling of completed forms after the discussion, including witness and storage considerations. Notes that requirements can vary by state.
What You Will Learn
- How telehealth changed access to advance care planning discussions
- Why consent and documentation are central to telehealth-based ACP encounters
- What general workflow issues arise when forms are completed remotely
- Why state-specific requirements can affect signing and witnessing processes
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Billers and revenue cycle staff
- Compliance professionals
- Physicians and advanced practice clinicians
- Practice managers
- Health care attorneys and consultants
Codes Discussed
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